Tricky Hat Best in Laurel Turf Cup

Under
a patient ride by Rosie Napravnik, Tricky Hat (CHI) took the short way
home, arriving first at the finish in the 1-1/2 mile $100,000 Laurel
Turf Cup.

Scoring
his first stakes victory and fourth lifetime win for trainer Shug
McGaughey, Tricky Hat stalked the eager pacesetters while saving ground
during the marathon turf test contested under rainy conditions. When the
field turned for home, Tricky Hat emerged from the pack along the rail,
opened a short lead and held off late closer Eagle Poise to win by a
neck, with Macho Mas Macho taking third.

“We had a great trip and he handled the wet turf well,” said
Napravnik. “We were sitting in a good spot and I was able to get
through on the inside. The horse was the class of the race.”

Napravnik began her career in Maryland as a 17-year-old apprentice rider in 2005.

Assistant-trainer
Jenn Patterson said, “I talked to Rosie beforehand. This is the kind of
horse you need to get into the race and she did that. He’d had a good
run last time at Saratoga, so we decided to give him the opportunity to
step up.”

The winner is owned by Andrew Rosen, Robert Trussell & Gainesway Stable. He paid $9.80.